Chess Puzzle #6XghR — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d3; knight b5; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen c2→c5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies Bc4+ (bishop d3→c4, gives check).
  3. Best move: d5 — pawn d7→d5. Opponent replies Bxd5+ (bishop c4→d5, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop b7→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/pbpp2pp/1p6/1Nq2p2/4n3/3B4/P1Q2PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 4 15

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